Fluid distributing apparatus



July 1, 1952 y L. LEE, '11 ,60 ,8

' FLUID DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 21, 1947 v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 my. 4 my. .5

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Leighton Lee H, Rocky mu, c0115., assignor m Niles-Bement-Pond Company, West Hartford, 1 002111., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 21, 1947, Serial No. 787,415

9 Claims. (01. 123-119) The present invention relates to apparatus for distributing equal quantities of fluid from a common source to a number of discharge points. The several modifications of the invention illustrated show arrangements which may be used in distributing fuel to the several nozzles of a turbine engine.

The present invention is an improvement on the structure shown and claimed in the copending application of Milton E. Chandler, Serial No. 782,757, filed October 29, 1947.

Insystems of this type, wherein a main supply line delivers into several branchdistributing lines, it is customary to provide each branch line with an individual flow control valve. Mechanism for simultaneously controlling a number of individual valves which may be widely separated tends to be complicated.

In some fluid distributing systems of the prior art, it has been proposed to place an individual pump in each distributing branch line, and to drive all the pumps from a common power source so that all operate at the same speed. Difiiculties in such systems have been encountered because of variations in the adjustment and volumetric efiiciency of the individual pumps.

Another type of prior art system employs a single variable delivery pump employing a number of individually controlled branch conduits. Where such a system is used, it is necessary to control the individual branch conduit valves concurrently with the pump delivery control to avoid building up excessive pressures at the discharge side of the pump.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved and simplified fluid distributing apparatus.

Another object is to provide a fluid distributing system including a main supply conduit and a plurality of branch conduits in which each branch conduit is controlled by a valve responsive to the pressure drop across an orifice in that branch conduit balanced against a variable control fluid pressure.

A further object is to provide a flow control system for the discharge'line of a pump, in which the flow is regulated in accordance with the pump speed to compensate for variations in the volumetric efl'iciency of the pump.

Another object is toprovide a fluid distribut- 2 ing system including a metering orifice in the main supply line as well as in each individual branch conduit, and coordinated control of the flows in the main lines and in the branch conduits.

A further object is to provide a system of the type described, in which means is provided to compensate the flow in the main lines for accidental variations in flow in the individual branch lines to eliminate undesirable building up of pressure in the event of clogging one of the branch lines.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the appended specification, claims and drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates, somewhat diagrammatically, a fluid distributing system embodying certain features of my invention,

Figure 2 illustrates, also somewhat diagrammatically, a fluid distributing system employing individual pumps in the branch lines and means for compensating for variations in volumetric efficiency of the pumps,

Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of my invention, employing a single variable delivery pump and means for coordinating the pump delivery with the controls in the several branch lines, and

Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of pump delivery control which may be used in place oi. that of Figure 3.

Referring now to Figure 1, the fluid comes from a tank (not shown) and flows through an inlet conduit ID, a pump [2, and a main discharge conduit M. The pump dischargepressure is regulated by a relief valve mechanism generally shown at l6. This mechanism includes a piston valve [8 operated by a bellows 20. The interior of bellows 20 is supplied with a variable control fluid pressure through a conduit 22. The exterior of bellows 20 is exposed tothe pump discharge pressure through a passage 24 extending through the valve 18. The valve mechanism I6 operates to maintain the discharge pressure of pump 12 at whatever value is required to balance the force due to the variable control fluid pressure acting .on bellows ,20. V

The fluid is distributed from conduit I4 through three branch conduits 2B, 28 and 30. Branch conduit 26 includes a metering orifice 32 and a discharge valve 34 biased to closed position by a spring 31. Discharge conduit 28 includes a metering orifice 36 and a control valve 3 8.

The branch conduit 30 includes a similar me- 'ton 44. valve :38 operates to. maintain the pressure on the '-downstream sideof restriction 36 .equal to that apair ofexpansible chambers I46 and I48.

tering restriction 40 and a control valve 42. Control valve 42 is similar in all respects to control valve 38, and only the latter will be described in detail. The control valve 38 includes a piston 44 attached by a stem 45 to a discharge valve 48. The upper end of piston 44 is attached to a guide rod 50. The space below piston 44 is subject to the fuel pressure on the downstream side of metering restriction 35. The space above piston 44 is subject to the fuel pressure in a pilot line 52,.

which communicates with discharge conduit 26 on the downstream side of meteringrestriction 32 therein. This same pressure is communicated to a similar space on control valve-421 by means of a conduit 54.

If the pressure in conduit 52 is lower thanthe pressure under piston 44, then thepiston-44 will rise, opening the valve 48 wider. This upward movement of valve 48 will continue untilthe pressures are balanced on the opposite sides of pis- Therefore .it may be seen that control on the downstream side of restriction 32. Since duits.

' Figure 2 JnFigure 2 fuel is delivered from the main supply conduit. I00 through a number. of branch conduits 102,102 and I02". The branch conduits are provided with individual pumps .I08,

I06 and I08, respectively. The several branch conduits discharge ,throughcontrolling mechanisms shown at HA, .I I4 and H4, respectively.

Only the control mechanism H4 is .shown in detail the rnechanisms H4 and H4 being similar.

,Thethree pumps [08,100 and I08" are driven by,a common source-of power, which also drives a governor, generally indicated at I20, having a pair of fly weights I22 whichoperatea pilot valve .I.2 6-;to control the pressure in a .pilot line I28.

The pilot line I28isconnected to a chamber I30 abovethevalve I26, and the pressurethereinacts downwardly on valve I26, in opposition to the centrifugal force acting on flyweights .I 22. When thepressure in chamber I30 balances the centrifugal force due to the flyweights I22, valve .IZSremainsin the position showninthe-drawing, in which the fluid in line I28 is trapped there. If the valve I26 moves upward 'fromthe positionshownin thev draWing fluid is admitted from .a supply conduit I32 'to thechamber I30 and conduit I28 throughan annular recess I33 and passage 134 in the valve I26. If the valve I26 moves downwardly from the position shown due totahigher pressurein chamber I30, then pilotline I28 is connected to a drain conduit I35.

The pressure in chamber I30 and in pilot line I28 varies ,withthe centrifugal force acting on ,flyweight I22, which inturn varies with the square offthespeed of the governor I20.

The. control mechanism H4 includes a valve I38 in a by-pass conduit I40, I42,,which extends from the pump outlet back to the.main,supply conduitlflfl. One end of thestem of valve I38 is connected to a flexible diaphragm J44 separating I A metering restriction I550 is provided inthe branch conduit I02. .Chamber I46 is connected to the upstream side of restrictio n I50 and chamber I48 is connected to the downstream side of restriction I50. The pressure drop across the restriction I50 varies with the square of the velocity of flow through the branch line I02. This pressure drop acts downwardly on diaphragm I44 and hence on valve I38. The other end of the stem of valve I38 is attached to a piston I52. The space above piston I52 is vented to atmosphere, while the space below piston I52 is connected through a conduit I54 to-the pilot line I28.

The valve I38 is thus subjected to an upwardly acting force which varies as the square of the speed of;the-pump I08 and to a downwardly acting force which varies as the square of the rate of flow :through restriction I50. When these forces become-unbalanced, valve I33 is operated "to restore the balanced condition. 2 Hence it may be stated that valve I 38 operates to maintain the flow through restriction I50 proportional to the speed of pump I08. It therefore compensates for any variation in volumetric efiiciency of pump :I08.

The branch conduits I02 and I02 are provided with controlmechanisms H4 and H4, respectively, which operate-the same as control mechanism H4. .The control .mechanisms --I I4 and H4" .are connected by .conduits I54 .and I54" respectively to the pilot line I28. The flow through each of the .branchconduitsis there- 'fore-controlledin. the same. manner, so that, equal quantities of fluid. flow through each branch, conduit, providing the areas of themetering restrictions such as I50 are equal. If vunequal flows are required; then metering restrictions :of unequal area :mayibe used.

Figure .3

In this figure the incoming iuel enters an inlet conduit 200 and passes throughavariable delivery pump 202, a conduit 204, a 'metering restriction206, a conduit 20 8,. a conduit zifl, and thence through individual control valves2I2, H4 and 2I 6 to branch discharge conduits 2I8, 220 and 222, respectively. i'lhelpump 202jis provided with a d iver c nt o v. p v a it l nd t gth .pum st ucbu he p m S t r is such that when thelever224 is moved clock- ..wise,.the .pum .de ve yis incre sed a i ica by t e eeend. .on h dr win h righ en I o l ve i conn ted hr m ans of :a in an slo .qe nsq io g ..rod; 2 conne n t nposed pistons2j2y8 and 2;3 0.

Piston 230 moves in a cylinder 232. The pres- S r a inao th oweria cotnistm 2 1 h at the upstream side of restriction {2.06, which is con e to c linde .23 th ou .a,con

.234. {Inc cylinde .23 o m to 12.341 1 1 nected through a conduit 242 to a conduit 244 Piston 2 28 movesjina cylinder'23l, the space und p stonjflBji ve ed t atmosph r a a 239. Th spa e abov p ston 22. i c nn cted u h Qndl .1235 to the condu 2 8 o th downstream side of restriction 206. I An..emere cy re ief v lve? ne m sfluidfiam from cond i .8 to th p m tinl o u .0- in p ss c cxce fl vepress i v l in i o i 2- s.

Each of the control valve mechanisms '2 I2; 214 and 2L6 issimilarandonly-the mechanism "2 I2 will be described in detail. Valve mechanismd I 2 includes a pair of pistons- 246 ;and24 8 connected by a 1 qd'250. The rodextends-through a "bushing' 25-2, so that'eachpiston acts-in an individual cylinder notin fluid communication with the cylinder of the'other pistonQ- T-he fluid pressure in conduit 210 is conveyed through a conduit 254 to the space 256 under piston 248. Space 258 above piston 248 is connected through a conduit 260 to the conduit 242. The space under piston 246 is vented to atmosphere, as at 262. Fluid entering the valve mechanism 2 [2 passes through a metering orifice 264. The upper face of piston 246is subject to the fluid pressure on the downstream side of orifice 264, and its peripheral edge serves as a valve to control the flow of fluid through a port leading to the discharge conduit H8. The valve mechanism 2l2 is subject to an upwardly acting force which is a measure of the flow through orifice 264, since the pressure on the upstream side of that orifice acts upwardly inchamber 258 while the pressure onlts downstream side acts downwardly on the upper surface of piston 246. At the same time, the variable control fluid pressure acts downwardly on the upper surface of piston 248. Therefore, when the flow is such that the pressure differential across orifice 264 balances the variable control fluid pressure in chamber 258, the valve remains stationary. Otherwise, it moves to correct the flow until such a condition of balance isobtained.

Hence, under normal operating conditions, the valve mechanisms 212, 2M and 2l6 control the flow into three discharge conduits H8, 220 and 222, so as to make those flows equal. 1

The pistons 230 and 228 operate the pump delivery control lever 2'24 so as to maintain the pressure drop across restriction 206 proportional to the variable control fluid pressure in conduit 244. The area of metering restriction 6 is so chosen with respect to the area of the orifices such as 264 and valve mechanism H2 and with respect to the areas of pistons 230 and 220, so that the flow through restriction 206 equals the sum of the flow through the orifices 264.

In case one of the discharge conduits M6,. 220 or 222 should become partially clogged, the pump would try to deliver through conduit 2) the same total flow which would be expected when that conduit were not partially clogged, if some means were not provided to prevent it. In such an event, all the pressures in the system on the downstream side of the pump would begin to rise. The occurrence of excessive pressure from this cause is avoided by the use of different areas on pistons 230 and 228. Because of these unbalanced areas, increase in the discharge pressure of pump 202 will cause the movement of delivery control lever 224 in a delivery decreasing direction. This delivery decreasing force is balanced by spring 238. Therefore, as the pump discharge pressure tends to increase, piston 230 moves the pump delivery control lever 224 in a delivery decreasing direction until a balance of forces is restored on pistons 228 and 230.

An emergency relief or safety valve is provided at 240, to take care of any accidental excessive pressures which might occur in the system in spite of the unbalancing of pistons 230 and 228.

Figure 4 This figure illustrates a modified form of pump delivery control mechanism which takes the place of the piston 230 and 228 of Figure 3. In this arrangement the two pistons are balanced, and excessive pressures will therefore occur, so that a relief valve such as 240 of Figure 3 must be provided.

Those elements in Figure 4 which correspond to similar elements in Figure 3 have been given reference numerals in the 300 series correspondalent of the structures shown herein or parts thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I hereby claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for distributing fluid from a common source to a plurality of discharge points in proportionate quantities, comprising a plurality of branch conduits, each leading from said source to one of said points, a fixed capacity pump in each of said conduits, a metering restriction in each of said conduits, a by-pass conduit for each pump extending from the outlet to the inlet thereof, a valve in each said by-pass conduit, common drive means for all said pumps, speed responsive means operated by said drive means for controlling a fluid pressure proportional to the square of the speed of said drive means, and operating means for each of said bypass valves including means responsive to said fluid pressure acting in a valve closing "direction and means responsive to the pressure drop across its associated metering restriction acting in a valve opening direction, said by-pass valves and their operating means being effective to maintain the flow through each metering restriction proportional to the-speed of said drive means, and thereby to compensate for variations in the volumetric capacity of the individual pumps.

2. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of a pump in .proportion to its speed, comprising a fixed capacity pump, a delivery conduit leading from said pump, a metering restriction in said delivery conduit, a by-pass conduit leading from the outlet to the inlet of said pump, a valve in said by-pass conduit, means for driving said pump, speed-responsive means operated by said drive means for controlling a fluid pressure proportional to the square of the speed of said drive means, and operating means for said valve including means responsive to said fluid pressure acting in a valve closing direction and means responsive to the pressure drop across said. metering restriction acting in a valve opening direction.

3. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of a pump in proportion to its speed, comprising a fixed capacity pump, a delivery conduit leading from said pump, a metering restriction in said delivery conduit, a by-pass conduit leading from the outlet to the inlet of said pump, a valve in said bypass conduit, and operating means for said valve including means responsive to the speed of said pump acting in a valve closing direction and means responsive to the pressure drop across said metering restriction acting in a valve opening direction.

4. Apparatus for controlling a fluid pressure in proportion to the square of the speed of a rotating shaft, comprising a centrifugal governor driven by said shaft, a cylinder, a piston valve movable longitudinally in said cylinder, an operative connection between said governor and said piston valve for causing longitudinal movement of said valve, said cylinder and piston valve forming a chamber at one end of said valve wherein the pressure acts on said valve in opposition to said governor, spaced inlet and outlet ports opening into said cylinder, said valve having a normal position in which both ports are closed and conduits a valve associated withweachgconduit for controlling the rate of fluid flow the rethr l ,v

a, control conduit containingpalfiuidundenasub stantially staticpressures operating azmiians for each of saidwalvesincluding means; responsive 45o.v an increase in the; press-uneydrop, across itsiassoci-r at'ed restrictionfor mov-ing said-valve-ins, direc tion toideerease said fiow and means responsive,

togsaidcontrol. conduit; pressur e f or moving said valve inc-the opposite direction:

Apparat sfor; ist i in fl -fr me ome monsou-rceto a plurality of outlets-iniproportion! ate quantities,qcomprisins a main deliveryconduit extending :from saidv source, a -v metering restric tion: in said main conduit; ELY plurality ,-of: branch conduits extendingfrom saidmain-conduit at the downstream'side ofthe restriction,;therein to said outlets, a. metering ;=.res-triction each; of.- said branch conduitsi anvalve in each ofssa idwbranch conduits. for:- controlling the fiow tl erethru a control conduit containing; fiuid:,undempressure; operating. means for each I valve "includingqmeans responsive to the :pressure drop.:.a -.0ssrit s, ssoei w ated restrictionlfor; movingisaid valv U direction, .and ameanscresponsive-atoz" sa idq control conduiti pressure -fonmovingssaidwaflve in titepp: posite direction, means .foncontroilingjhe: flow: thru saidmain'condu'it', andnperatingimeanscfor saidcontrolling: means. including means-r .respons: sive 'to the pressure drop iacrosstsaidzmain can? duit' restriction i for operating saidsicontrol'; means, in a, flowdecrea-sing direction; and-means response amusin 8 sive rtoiseid control;conduiti pressure: for moving saidticontrollineimeanssinr themppositer direction:

7. Apparatus asiniclaim aqin whichsaid means responsive :to theipressure drop acro'ssssa-id main conduiturestriction :slightly; unbalanced; :with

vanyingihe delivery of saiidpumpsandincluding an?emergencyxreliefwvalve for venting the pump, outleifitosthepumpiinlet -,whe,never; the pump rout- LEIGHTONI LEE 1 II; 1

REEERENEES iGITED-l The follofwing- -references'-are of record in i-the' file? of this-patent:

UNITEDSTATESPATENTS Number Name" Date. 1,272,212. (jeillani M rJullyliEli 1913 20691744 1 Alden: l l 4 Feb: .9,;193'1 251911186 Amery Feb; 20;:1940 2,2835266 Kirisellt.s ..M'ay:'19; 1942 2313;797 Bailey wMarc- 16, 1943 5 2-,430',264 WiegandLUnJWW. New 4, 194? EOR'EIGNTPATENTS Num'benr Country, 7 Date 1" 526369??- German ..:s Feb.-j26; 1928 4Q; 5771323 GreatBrit-am p l May- 7, 1946 

